The
holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is situated at the foothills of Trikuta Mountains in Jammu and Kashmir and is one of the most popular pilgrimage centers in the world. Here, the Bhawan is the sanctum sanctorum or the sacred cave where the Devi manifested herself in the form of natural rocks, known as the three sacred pind’s. It is believed that Devi Mata fulfills every wish of her devotees.
Where to start the spiritual journey:
To reach the temple, one has to obtain a travel slip (which is absolutely free) from the registration counters and travel about 13 km from Katra. Most devotees walk on either side, some prefer to ride ponies, while palanquins are also available for the sick and elderly. A helicopter service operates from Katra to Sanjichhat, from where the temple is just 2.5 kms.
A visit to the temple of
Mata Vaishno Devi is a spiritual journey like no other, as you climb the holy cave amidst the echo of 'Jai Mata Di' and the beautiful views of the entire valley. On reaching the main temple after a long arduous journey, the feeling of devotion and vibrant positivity is truly mesmerizing, taking away all the tiredness and exhaustion of the journey.
Important things to during the trip:
❀ Visit the Ardh Kuwari Cave, which is located in the middle of the old passage of the building. This narrow cave is popular not only for its religious significance but also as a pit for traveling devotees. On the other hand, one has to crawl on one's knees to reach where the main temple dedicated to the goddess is located. According to the belief, Mata Vaishnodevi had taken refuge here during her hiding from Bhairav Nath for 9 months.
❀ Upon reaching the building, a bath in the holy waters of the bathing ghat is considered the ideal cleansing before the holy darshan.
❀ Experience the famous aarti held in the building before sunrise and after sunset. This sacred aarti is performed by the priests in front of the holy deity and then brought out to the devotees.
❀ Apart from the darshan of the three Pindis in the holy cave, there are many other sacred darshans in the original cave, such as symbols of Bhagwan Ganesh, Prabhu Hanuman, Bhairon Nath, five Pandavas etc. These visions are only possible. During the lean season when the original cave is used. Also see temples dedicated to Mata Durga, Bhagwan Shiva and Bhagwan Ram within the Bhawan surrounding.
Yatra needs to be complete:
During this time do not miss to visit Bhairon Baba Temple, which is located just a few kilometers away from Mata Vaishno Devi Temple. Otherwise your journey will not be complete.
It is advisable to avoid the peak season crowd for a comfortable darshan.
Jai Mata Di!